Yesterday’s sentencing hearing played out like the end of a B-movie that we had long ago decided was beneath our standards of decency. Even though we knew the thing was a waste of time and an abuse of good taste, our eyes remained glued to the screen up ’til the pathetic, bitter end.

“Twenty-two years with no parole,” said the sorry actor who played the part of the unworthy judge. “We are pleased,” said the hack who played the sell-out defense attorney.

“Who the hell is ‘We’?” I muttered under my breath, still thinking of the eight bucks I’d wasted paying to get into this stale-air place with crummy seats and sticky floors.

The only performance which seemed to have any legs whatsoever was that of the young boy who played the part of the accused. “Listen! I promise I did not rape or beat Neily Shea. Please listen to me once. I don’t know who did it, but there were a lot of people in that house that night. Why doesn’t anyone check them?” he implored. “Justice has not been done.”

He’s right. This was a classic travesty of justice.

The house lights come up, I look around, and there is only one audience member whose gaze is still transfixed on the blank screen—a sad, solitary figure who I know will be back for the next screening, and the next, and the one after that. He is obsessed with one of the characters in this miserable film and cannot get enough.

Me—I’m out of here and never looking back. The next movie features an actor—a star—who plays a real-life Atticus Finch, and I hear this time the Tom Robinson character receives a fair trial and is freed.

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13 Responses to “bad movie”

Theres no words to descrbe my feelings over james sentence .james is right justice hasnt been done …a child rapist is out there ..free to rape again ..james doing there sentence for them ..James needs all the contact and support he can get now .what would have happened to james had he not had petitions ,letters to judge etc? Those few words were those of a scared,upset young man ..a plea for help .what does one say to a young man sentenced to 22 year for crime he didnt do .DAN ..how can we help and support james ?

Send him letters of support and remind him that there are so many people on the outside who are not fooled by this travesty of justice and still believe in his innocence. Over the last six months James has become more isolated, even though his support base has grown. He is holding onto only a single life line now–and one which is fraying. Throw him another. And another. There cannot be too many.

Sad that james got so long a sentence ,only lifers get that length here england .Am gonna get a letter off to him .Can he be sent books etc? What else can he accept ? Is there a list which can put on then others might help ? Stupid that james got such a sentence ,feel sick that hes doing time for someone that is free to possibly rape again .Sentencing is way over board for young people .What prison sentence is achieving nobody really knows because prison sentence isnt a detterant ,crime isnt getting any less ,guns need abolishing for one thing .Been checking every hour to find out how james was doing ,he seemed a scared,upset young man by the words he said .he be devistated ,i know i am .Its so wrong what he was sentenced to .I saw sister helan prejean on dead man walking ,how they got evidence and got people help .what a country america is becomming ! Theres so much mentioned that they could have put in court and james would have been free now .whats wrong with how they go about a case ,why they leave so much out the court or had they got personnel thing against james ,suppose its all the lot rolled into one .i saw video of female inmate talking and it was upsetting hearing her say she die in prison she only 16 gonna compile a letter to james now .

First, James blamed the assault on a black man in a home invasion. Next, he blamed his friends – said he could hear her torturous screams but was prevented from rendering assistance. Finally, he made up a story about being away from the residence with his accomplice at the time of the beating and rape – this after the accomplice confessed his part and was convicted. James then bathed his baby sister in an attempt to wash away evidence – his beaten baby sister bleeding profusely – even though she was a blonde she appeared to be a redhead to the attending nurse at the hospital. This bath came ahead of any call for help.

One year after the crime James told Steve, “my biggest regret about that night is the loss of my xbox”.

After a comprehensive 2 year investigation and a vigorous defense of James, the facts of the case are clear and the verdict is in.

James was to protect his baby sister that evening. As she was screaming for help, the only person that could, was the most vicious of all.

[NOTE TO READERS: We believe his commenter’s real name is Guy Holder Williams, and it appears Williams has an e-mail extractor installed on his account through which he can use e-mail replies sent to him as “gateways” to extract the private files on people’s computers. For this reason, Holder’s (or Williams’) e-mail and URL links on this comment have been disabled.]

I thank you for having enough integity to post an oposite view. I am not some sort of nefarious character – my often irritating posts are scattered around the web. I have a lot of time on my hands, saddled with a chronic illness that makes my monitor my only window. Among other interests, I have developed a fascination with juvenile crime – hence my post here. I can assure you I have no interest in extracting anybody’s files.

My policy is to allow any comments as long as they are offered in a civil manner and do not cross the line of being partisan disinformation originating from opponents in particular cases for which we are funding the defense. I apologize if my above note seemed to imply nefarious intent. As our recent experiences illustrate, it is difficult to know who is a friend or foe in the Wild West of the Internet, and we are learning to exercise more caution than one would like to believe necessary.

I spoke with James on the phone about an hour ago. He’s in good spirits despite the insanity and injustice that have plagued his young life. I told him I’ll make him a bet that he will never see the inside of a prison. His response was “OK, if I lose the bet I’ll give you my first paycheck.” Gotta love that kid! We will prevail. James will be exonerated. In the meantime PLEASE write to him. We’ve gotta keep him in positive space, keep his mind from out of those dark places of despair where it can go without our continuing support.